Summer 2020, Volume 96, Number 2
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Summer 2020, Volume 96, Number 2 From the INTERIM PRESIDENT Showing Our Stripes, Roaring Forward In times of great crisis throughout history, our LSU family has always responded with great resiliency and resolve to serve our state and country and to support one another. Faced with a pandemic that has brought unprecedented disruption, Tigers across the nation are once again rising to meet the challenge of this historical moment by helping their neighbors and communities. The medical professionals heroically treating patients on the frontline of the coronavirus fight include many LSU alumni. They are supported by our innovative LSU researchers, who have achieved breakthroughs in testing, PPE production, and clinical trials on treatment options and potential vaccines. Through these and countless other inspiring efforts by our LSU family to fight the pandemic, we have shown why great research universities like LSU exist. By leveraging our extensive expertise, innovation, research, assets, and facilities, our LSU family has helped flatten the curve and continues to play a vital role in our recovery. The dedication and determination displayed by our students, faculty, and staff – who quickly transitioned to remote learning and working during the spring semester and persevered with great success – has been equally inspiring. And though our celebration looked different this year, it was with great joy and pride that we recently honored the amazing accomplishments of our Class of 2020 graduates. We look forward to holding an in-person commencement ceremony for them on our flagship campus when it is safe to do so. “We will continue to As our new graduates enter the workforce, many of the career opportunities they were hoping to take advantage of have suddenly evaporated due to the persevere through this economic crisis created by the pandemic. LSU Alumni Association members most difficult moment have always played a critical role in ensuring the success of our students, before and after graduation. Please keep our newest LSU alumni in your thoughts and in our history. And we consider providing them an opportunity or other assistance in the months ahead can take comfort in if you can. We will continue to persevere through this most difficult moment in our history. knowing that while this And we can take comfort in knowing that while this pandemic is temporary, LSU pandemic is temporary, is forever. Our great university is moving forward with courage and optimism. With the safety and well-being of our LSU family guiding every decision we make LSU is forever.” and action we take, we are planning to open our campuses this fall and we are making every effort to resume in-person classes. I sincerely appreciate your continued support of LSU and your engagement with the LSU Alumni Association. Geaux Tigers! Thomas C. Galligan, Jr. LSU Interim President and Professor of Law @lsuprez LSU Alumni Magazine | Summer 2020 1 Publisher Contents LSU Alumni Association Editor Jackie Bartkiewicz Advertising Emily Johnson Art Director Chuck Sanchez STUN Design & Interactive Editorial Assistants 7 Emily Johnson, Rachel Rhodes Contributors Feature Bailey Chauvin, Ed Cullen, Ginger Guttner, Elsa Hahne, Libby Haydel, Rachel Holland, Anna Long, Tamara Mizell, Ferris McDaniel, Sherry Sanchez, Alison Satake, Greg Forbes Siegman Photography 12 Fighting Tigers at the Forefront Arizona State University, Johnny Gordon, Laurie Hamilton, LSU Athletics, LSU Division of Strategic Communications, LSU School of Veterinary LSU faculty, staff, students, and Medicine, Michael C. Hebert/New Orleans Saints, Kevin Houghton, alumni rallied against the coronavirus Thomas Hymel/Louisiana Sea Grant, Jon SooHoo/USC Athletic Department pandemic, doing what they do best – 10 using their talent, ingenuity, resilience, Printing Baton Rouge Printing and fighting spirit to support the state and the nation. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeffrey M. “Jeff” Mohr, Chair 26 Mentoring Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, La. Big Buddy, a mentoring program, Bart B. Schmolke, Chair-elect began in an LSU classroom. When Alexandria, La. it turned forty, the program’s staff 35 Beverly G. Shea, Immediate Past Chair began thinking of ways to celebrate. New Iberia, La. Why not get in touch with the LSU Alumni Association about a story in its Stanley L. “Stan” Williams Fort Worth, Texas quarterly magazine that would reach its far-flung leadership? Jack A. Andonie, Director Emeritus Metairie, La. Lodwrick M. Cook, Director Emeritus Sherman Oaks, Calif. In Each Issue 44 J. Ofori Agboka, Seattle Wash. Mario J. Garner, Spring, Texas Mark Kent Anderson, Jr., Monroe, La. James G. “Jimmy” Gosslee, Shreveport, La. 1 From the LSU Interim President Michael B. Bethea, Covington, La. Leo C. Hamilton, Baton Rouge, La. Karen Brack, San Diego, Calif. R. Scott Jenkins, New Orleans, La. 4 LSUAA President Message David B. Braddock, Dallas, Texas Matthew K. “Matt” Juneau, Baton Rouge, La. Cassandra M. Chandler, West End, N.C. Michael J. Kantrow, Jr., New York, N.Y. 6 LSU Alumni Association News Kathryn ‘Kathy” Fives, Baton Rouge, La. Kevin F. Knobloch, Baton Rouge, La. 30 Around Campus Corey Foster, Lake Charles, La. Brandon Landry, Baton Rouge, La. G. Archer Frierson, III, Shreveport, La. Van P. Whitfield, Houston, Texas 40 Locker Room LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE is published quarterly in March, June, September, 76 Tiger Nation 92 and December by the LSU Alumni Association. Annual donations are $50, of which $6 is allocated for a subscription to LSU Alumni Magazine. The LSU Alumni Association is not liable for any loss that might be incurred by a purchaser responding to an advertisement in this magazine. Editorial and Advertising LSU Alumni Association 3838 West Lakeshore Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4686 225-578-3838 • 888-RINGLSU www.lsualumni.org / [email protected] © 2020 by LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-4686 Letters to the editor are encouraged. LSU ALUMNI MAGAZINE reserves the On the Cover Global Forefront by Thomas Wimberly. right to edit all materials accepted for publication. Publication of material does not indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint by the magazine, the Association, or LSU. 2 LSU Alumni Magazine | Summer 2020 LSU Alumni Magazine | Summer 2020 3 President and CEO MESSAGE A Spring Season Like No Other My colleagues had prepped me well about “Chapter Crawfish Season” – lots of travel, lots of work, lots of fun. I was looking forward to this first-time experience, to other gatherings with our alumni and friends, and to our highlight event of the year, the Hall of Distinction gala. The Spring 2020 first-time experience certainly was not what we envisioned when the year began and our calendars were filled with across-the-country visits and on-campus events. Instead of traveling, we went to work here at home – indeed, in our own homes – when the governor issued a stay-at-home order on March 22. Along with the University’s outstanding faculty and staff, Association employees stepped up to the challenge of working remotely to serve our students, donors, supporters, and friends. They were well prepared. As a longtime member of the Association, I’d seen this extraordinary staff rise to the occasion before, during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They did it again this spring. I know you join me in thanking them for keeping our hotel and business operations going, communicating the latest news about the virus, and keeping us connected – and boosting our spirits – through social media. As this issue’s cover attests, faculty, staff, students, and alumni rallied to fight the coronavirus pandemic on the forefront, and the stories you’ll find in this issue will make you proud to be an LSU Tiger. See page 12. “Keeping the Longtime readers know Hall of Distinction honorees traditionally grace the cover of the summer magazine, and this year’s inductees will – in 2021! Until then, Tiger Spirit Alive” we recognize and pay tribute to them online, so be sure to visit our website at lsualumni.org/HOD2020. The cancellation of the gala, chapter events, and on-campus activities necessitated a redo of planned content for the summer magazine, as well as a delay in production. The next magazine will be published in November, so you will receive three issues rather than four this year. Your magazine subscription is a perk of membership, and we value your readership and support and appreciate your understanding. You can look forward to the usual four issues in 2021. Heartfelt congratulations to our May 2020 graduates whose names you will find beginning on page 46. They truly deserve their well-earned degrees, and we heartily welcome them to Tiger Nation. The past semester tested us all. I am grateful and proud to be a part of the team that helped weather the crisis and is keeping the Tiger spirit alive. Thank you for your generous and continued support of our University through the LSU Alumni Association. Geaux Tigers! Gordon Monk President/CEO LSU Alumni Association AlumniLSU lsualumniassociation 4 LSU Alumni Magazine | Summer 2020 LSU Alumni Magazine | Summer 2020 5 LSU Alumni Association NEWS Chapter Events From left, standing, Adam Causey, Ora Hare, Rachel Jones, George Fulco, George Kruger, James Ditta, David Ditta, and Cindy and Dale Hanchey; seated, Taylor Berlin and Pete Gaskin. Central Oklahoma – The Central Oklahoma Chapter sponsored a table at the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet honoring Grant Delpit as the nation's outstanding defensive back. The event took place at the National Cowboy & Western From left, Cheryl Davis, Wendy Schiele, President Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City Lisa Bunch, and Julie Klibert. in February. One of the nation's top collegiate sports honors, the Dollars for Scholars – the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is LSU Houston Chapter donated From left, Pete Gaskin, Taylor Berlin, Adam Causey, presented to individual athletes Grant Delpit, Cindy Hanchey and Dale Hanchey, $90,000 over two years to its chapter Ora Hare, George Fulco, and Rachel Jones.